U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES: OCTOBER 1996 This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released before 8:30 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 1996 CB-96-218 Press Copy FT-900 (96-10) For information on goods contact: Bureau of the Census: Haydn R. Mearkle (301) 457-2246 Richard M. Preuss (301) 457-2311 For information on services contact: Bureau of Economic Analysis: Technical: Christopher Bach (202) 606-9545 Media: Larry Moran (202) 606-2649 U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES -- October 1996 The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total October exports of $71.7 billion and imports of $79.7 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $8.0 billion, $3.5 billion less than the $11.4 billion in September, revised. October exports were $2.9 billion more than September exports of $68.8 billion. October imports were $0.6 billion less than September imports of $80.3 billion. In October, the goods deficit decreased $3.4 billion from September to $14.1 billion, and the services surplus was virtually unchanged at $6.1 billion. Exports of goods increased to $52.9 billion from $50.3 billion, and imports of goods decreased to $67.0 billion from $67.8 billion. Exports of services increased to $18.8 billion from $18.5 billion, and imports of services increased to $12.7 billion from $12.5 billion. The September to October change in exports of goods reflected increases in capital goods of $2.3 billion (primarily civilian aircraft and telecommunications equipment); industrial supplies and materials ($0.7 billion); consumer goods ($0.3 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.1 billion). Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines decreased ($0.6 billion) and other goods decreased ($0.5 billion). The September to October change in imports of goods reflected decreases in automotive vehicles, parts, and engines $1.0 billion (primarily Canadian cars and trucks) and capital goods ($0.2 billion). Industrial supplies and materials increased ($0.1 billion) and consumer goods increased ($0.1 billion). Foods, feeds, and beverages and other goods were virtually unchanged. Note: Total goods are reported on a balance of payments basis; commodity and country detail for goods are on a Census basis. Definitions are explained in the notes starting on page 26 of this release. For the three months ending in October, exports of goods and services, using a centered three-month moving average, were $70.1 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $80.1 billion, resulting in an average trade deficit of $10.0 billion. For the three months ending in September, the average trade deficit was $11.2 billion, reflecting average exports of $68.6 billion and average imports of $79.8 billion. Services exports increased $0.3 billion from September to October. Travel increased $0.1 billion, and small increases in the other categories of services exports resulted in an increase of $0.2 billion. Services imports increased $0.3 billion from September to October. Other transportation increased $0.1 billion, and other categories of services imports also registered small increases that totaled $0.2 billion. Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $13.9 billion in October and imports were $11.6 billion, resulting in a surplus of $2.4 billion, $1.3 billion more than the September surplus of $1.0 billion. October exports were $1.6 billion more than the $12.3 billion in September, while imports were $0.2 billion more than the $11.3 billion in September. The October figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Australia $0.7 (for September $0.7), Brazil $0.5 ($0.5), Hong Kong $0.4 ($0.2), Korea $0.3 ($0.3), Egypt $0.2 ($0.2), and Argentina $0.2 ($0.1). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with Japan -$5.0 (-$3.8), China -$4.9 (-$4.7), OPEC -$2.0 (-$2.2), Western Europe -$1.8 ( -$1.0), Canada -$1.6 (-$1.9), Taiwan -$1.3 (-$1.3), Mexico -$1.1 (-$1.7), and Singapore -$0.4 (-$0.6). Carry-over in October was $0.7 billion (1.2 percent) for exports and $0.3 billion (0.4 percent) for imports. For September, revised export carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.1 percent), revised down from $0.6 billion (1.2 percent). For September, revised import carry-over was $0.1 billion (0.1 percent), revised down from $0.2 billion (0.3 percent). Scheduled Release Dates for 1997 in Explain.txt file Seasonally Adjusted Exhibit 1 International Trade in Goods and Services 4 Exhibit 2 Goods and Services Three - Month Moving Averages 5 Exhibit 3 U.S. Services by Major Category--Exports 6 Exhibit 4 U.S. Services by Major Category--Imports 7 Exhibit 5 U.S. Trade in Goods 8 Exhibit 6 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category 9 Exhibit 7 Exports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity 10 Exhibit 8 Imports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity 12 Exhibit 9 Petroleum and Non-Petroleum End-Use Category Totals 14 Exhibit 10 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category (Constant Dollars) 15 Exhibit 11 Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods, Petroleum and Non- Petroleum End-Use Commodity Category Totals (Constant Dollars) 16 Not Seasonally Adjusted Exhibit 12 U.S. Trade in Goods 17 Exhibit 13 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category 18 Exhibit 14 Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods by Selected Countries and Areas - 1996 19 Exhibit 15 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal SITC Commodity Groupings 21 Exhibit 16 Exports, Imports, and Balance of Advanced Technology Products 23 Exhibit 17 Imports of Energy - Related Petroleum Products, Including Crude Petroleum 24 Exhibit 18 Exports and Imports of Motor Vehicles and Parts By Selected Countries 25 Information on Goods and Services 26 SOURCE: Report FT900 (CB-96-218), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade Division, OCTOBER 1996. For more information, contact Haydn R. Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Richard M. Preuss (301-457-2311), Foreign Trade Division.